Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-02-04
THE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
The 35th semi-Annual Meeting One Of
The Best Ever Held.
An Attendance second to hut one In tn.


the invasion Of the town by the numer-
ous pedagogues Of our county, did not
dawn as smiling and bright as we had
an idea it would, having spoken to the
weather clerk for a good day. Never
theless the poor weather did not keep
many of them away, as the attendance
proved to be immense, in fact, we find
that but one Association i'm the State
has out-distanced this in the point of
attendance. BY actual count it was
found that at noon, Friday, 2Oi people
were assembled in the chapel room of
the Normal, which Prof. Welstead had
so kindly placed at the disposal of the
meeting. The meeting was opened at
1880 10y music, queries, etc, followed
by the reading of the Secretary's re-
port, which had been carefully prepar.
ed by the efficient Sec'y., Miss Eva
Sturgis, and lacked much of the dry-
ness usually found in reports of like
nature. This was followed by the in
augural address Of Prof. J. y. Mccall.
OF Ithaca, the President of the Asso-
ciation The subject Of his address
was THE Evolution of the Common
School Teacher, and our greatest re-
gret is that the RECORD cannot give TO
Its readers the address in full, rather
than tins short abstract. The speech
was well received, and much enioved
by the teachers who have been there
themselves.
After thanking the Association for
the honor conferred, and begging their
patience, Mr. Mccall began the formal
part of his address, by saying:
Minerva, the goddess of wisdom and
the patroneSS OF schools. sprang full
armed from the head of Joye, but not
SO the luckless pedagogue, over whose
fate Minerva presided. He fitted him
self 10 guide the footsteps OF the Young
Greek or Roman only by the most ar
duous toll. The teacher is born and
becomes. We do not say made. because
this attaches too much importance TO
outside influences. Circumstances NAV
10 much toward making the man. but |
Emerson has well said, Man is capable |
OF making himself greater circum- |
stance than them ALL" Light, heat. |
'oli and moisture have much to do !
with the growth of that mighty oak. |
but all the light. heat and moisture in |
The world can not evolve an oak tree
lut or dead acorn or hickory nut.
Natural abilities plus subsequent innu-
'nces and activities equals the man.
W lth the teacher as with the pupil ed
lcation means "self activity in the line
II intellectual growth. There can be
10 doubt but that natural ability has
much to do with fitness to teach, but
/ alone Will never make a teacher.
III, then, the teacher is born and be-
'omes, let us trace some of the steps bv
which he rises, if he rises.
MI Mccall then considered the diff
erent phases in the evolution Of a
ommon school teacher by reference 10
young man OF the mature age Of is.
Sho lived on farm in a fractional
uDdlStrlct OF a growing western state. !
lie had attended school until twelve
ears OF age, both summer and winter,
MT then having become quite useful at
ONE, he attended only in the winter :
lie was good boy in school-that is. :
e averaged good. Although not the =,
rSt IN hi. class, neither would he
ave been first if his class had been ,
Uned around. He knew something :.
each Of the three RS. could spell !,
own the school. had read some L. &
istory and had an idea that when the =
llgrlmS landed at Plymouth Rock. -
aniel Webster met them. and wei "
lmed them To the land of our fore -
Ithers. and called them venerable men :, :,
aVlng read in the county paper that "A !,
lend had been licensed To teach. he y
,came anxious to try. lie attended -
! academy. where he reviewed his ~
mmon branches and studied physiol- y,
~ and |. :. history. The next sum- :.
er he attended an institute and at its N
oSc passed the examination, and after -
aitng patiently for the o1icious 80
hOOl officer TO seek him. fearing some NI
hoOl might miss a good teacher. he Il,
ught the school officer and secured a 81
hOOl. His first term was successful. -;
P studied algebra, and began latin. ~
sides attending 10 his regular school on
ties. The summer he spends at NJ
me. The next fall and winter at the o..
ademy. where he completes the ma h. +
latcs. follows up his latin and be-
rs the Greek, necessary for admission ..
college. He is now old enough as a 81
icher to he named. For convenience -,
, will call him John Studens. ~ NJ
The next fall and winter Studens ~.
aches small graded school of two ar ~
partmentS, and as natural result mn
his advancement allows himself To -
called Professor. He is still sue -
Ssiul and studious, and by another ou
II he is ready for college. lie enters hho
c freshman year, does good work for r ro
% years and then finds that a grad H.,
] contraction in the circulating med to
m has brought about a financial de- ~.
esSion, and if he would resume specie Li
yment he must teach for at least two Tl
ars. lie secures a village school.
pplements his experience with close
plication and carefully reading books
teaching and one or TWO good edu- cd
.iOnal journals, but most of all bv ey
od, common sense. He succeeds. de
the end of two years he intends To al
urn to college, but Mt his salary be- IN
( increased, concludes to remain. At he
e end of another two years he took to
o important steps: BY tha first. he on